2018 BMW X2 Owner Complaints

While driving a drivetrain warning ⚠️ was detected and code was displayed on the I drive, along with a CEL. The vehicle is in limp mode so I was unable to accelerate past 35-40 mph. Took the car into the dealership and was informed that my waste gate actuator failed @59,388 miles. The part is an electric controller and can fail without warning. In my opinion 59,000 miles is extremely early for a part that controls boost pressure at the turbocharger. Found numerous complaints about this component and I feel it should be recalled by the manufacturer. This component was an issue on older models and BMW extended the warranty to 15 years/150,00 miles.

NHTSA ID

11739785

Incident

May 19, 2026

Water began accumulating in the front footwell area of the vehicle, resulting in a soaked carpet and persistent musty odor. The condition developed during normal operation of the air conditioning system, without any external water intrusion (no flooding or open windows). The issue appears to be caused by a failure of the A/C condensate drain system, which is not properly draining water outside the vehicle. Instead, condensation is leaking into the cabin. This creates a risk of mold growth and potential damage to electrical components located beneath the floor, including wiring harnesses and control modules. The problem has been reproducible, especially when the air conditioning is in use. There were no warning lights or alerts prior to noticing the issue. Research indicates that BMW has identified this exact defect in Service Information Bulletin SIB 64 04 16, which states that the condensate drain hose may be improperly installed, kinked, blocked, or damaged during installation, leading to water ingress into the footwell area. This suggests the issue is due to a known design or manufacturing defect rather than normal wear and tear. This condition poses a safety concern due to possible electrical malfunction and reduced vehicle reliability. The affected components are available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11726633

Incident

Jul 10, 2025

EMERGENCY SOS MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON

NHTSA ID

11651920

Incident

Jan 15, 2025

Rear brake light bulb housing assemblies melted plastic around metal bulbs contacts. Both tail light assemblies has failed three times each. This issue has occurred on multiple BMW X2s.

NHTSA ID

11648786

Incident

Mar 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 BMW X2. The contact stated that while driving, a "Driver’s side rear turn signal malfunction" message was displayed. Upon investigation, the contact was able to find information online and replaced the rear turn signal bulb herself. The contact stated that several days later, the failure returned, and the contact decided to take the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The mechanic informed the contact that the defect was a known issue caused by the casing around the taillight which caused the bulb to melt. The mechanic replaced the lightbulb; however, the failure returned several days later. The contact replaced the bulb independently however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and claimed to not know about the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,140.

NHTSA ID

11639179

Incident

Dec 22, 2024

Mileage

10,140 mi

Experiencing an issue with rear turn signal not functioning properly. Replaced bulb but problem not resolved. Checked internet to find others are experiencing issue with part melting causing bulb socket to loose connectivity causing the problem. Serious safety concern by my standards. Wife’s vehicle and she is constantly getting the finger and angry drivers behind honking and screaming at her.

NHTSA ID

11615866

Incident

Sep 18, 2024

BMW X2 "REAR TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION" OCCURS CONSISTENTLY. Seems like a manufacturer defect. I took it to the dealer once and had the bulb changed when I was there for scheduled service and it worked for 1 day and then back to the fault. Seems to be a common manufacturer defect: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] 
 [XXX] ? [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11609364

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

My car started fire by itself. It was parked in front of my house. I drove 90 miles from my work in the same evening. I came home at 7:00pm, and since then my car was untouched. At 1:30am of the night, I heard something "pop" outside and it started making noise like something is on fire. And then I opened the window to find out my car is on fire. It was parked right in front of my house, the fire would move to my house anytime, but my neighbor called the police and fire station for me, and told me to get out of the house ASAP because it might explode. I was so panicked to grab my cats as I try to leave my house, and the police came right away, they started to water the rim of my house. The fire truck arrived in 15min or so, and it took about 30min to put the fire off. Thankfully, as it was right after that we noticed the fire, and the gas tank was almost empty, neither my house, myself, my family, my cats, and my neighbor were unharmed. Hawaii Police Department was there : Report #24-021263. My insurance company (GEICO) came and take a look, and they are taking care of it now. It is confirmed as "total loss". It has been showing the alert to check engine oil for about a week or so, but on the "vehicle status" screen, it was saying nothing was in immediate trouble. I even had made an oil-change appointment at the dealer on Mar 18th. I will upload some photos, but I have some videos of when the fire started also.

NHTSA ID

11576127

Incident

Mar 4, 2024

Faulty or weak torsion spring in gear shift selector assembly causing multiple codes of improper transmission shift position. Indication of warning to use parking brake due to potential rolling.

NHTSA ID

11559057

Incident

Dec 7, 2023

I have had trouble with both my right and left taillight blinkers failing at various times. In the first instance, I took the car into BMW of Seattle to get a new bulb, but this did not fix the problem. After talking with the parts department, the man informed me that it might be an issue with the bulb socket. We tried replacing this but it still didn't work. The technician ended up scraping corrosion off of the contacts in the taillight assembly, which makes it work for a time, but then work either intermittently or not at all. I was told that the problem is due to metal connecting to plastic parts, which can become corroded and cause the electrical connection to fail. The parts person said that he had heard of this problem with the X2 models. BMW quoted me $1000 to replace each of the taillight units. I'm assuming if I spend $2000 to do both, this will just happen again. Please add this component to a recall list. Note: Both times the taillight warnings went off for each side, it was when the temperature had dropped in Seattle. They were cold days with a lot of moisture in the air. Possibly this problem is due to condensation leading to corrosion of the parts.

NHTSA ID

11549063

Incident

Oct 9, 2023

The contact owned a 2018 BMW X2. The contact stated that while driving at 20-25 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. As a result, the contact sustained an injury to the neck, back, chest, and left arm. Medical attention was required, and the ambulance was called to the scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed of a callback. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

NHTSA ID

11508883

Incident

Nov 2, 2022

Mileage

32,000 mi

AIR CONDITIONER BLOWING NO AIR FELT LIKE WHEN IT NEEDS FREON, GAS METER WENT FROM HALF TANK TO A QUARTER WITHIN A 30 MILE DRIVE VERY UNUSUAL FOR THIS CAR. MY ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM WAS HACKED A PERSON CAME THROUGH THE SPEAKER AND VERBAL THREATENED MY LIFE THIS IS REPORTED TO FBI. THIS WAS NOT THE RADIO, THEY SAID MY NAME.

NHTSA ID

11362331

Incident

Sep 27, 2020

Mileage

26,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW X2. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO STEER THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF WILMINGTON (4920 NEW CENTRE DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403, (910) 392-2700) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE FAILURE WAS INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. *DT *TR

NHTSA ID

11265849

Incident

Sep 10, 2018

Mileage

100 mi

2018 BMW X2. THE CAR HAS THE PARKING ASSIST FUNCTION, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO PARALLEL PARK THE CAR. AT DELIVERY, I WAS TOLD HOW TO USE THE SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM FINDS A SPACE, STEERS AND BRAKES. THE VIDEO ON THE DEALERSHIP WEBSITE SAYS IT BRAKES FOR YOU. HTTPS://WWW.PASSPORTBMW.COM/BLOGS/846/MARLOW-HEIGHTS-BMW-DEALER/WATCH-HOW-TO-ACTIVATE-THE-PARKING-ASSISTANT-FEATURED-ON-YOUR-BMW/. THE VIDEO MAKES NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN MODELS AND IS UP AS OF 3/23/19. THE VEHICLE MANUAL SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THE DRIVER BRAKING DURING THE PROCESS. SEE ATTACHED PICTURES OF MANUAL. PARKING ASSIST FUNCTION BACKED INTO A CAR THE FIRST TIME I TRIED IT, DAMAGING THE BUMPER. THE SCREEN IN THE CAR DOES SAY TO USE BRAKES, BUT THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE SALES PEOPLE, THE MANUAL, AND THE VIDEO. MOREOVER, IT IS A FLAW IN THE SYSTEM IF IT REQUIRES YOU TO BRAKE BUT WILL OPERATE WITHOUT USING THE BRAKES. IMPOSSIBLE TO READ SCREEN AND BACK UP AT SAME TIME. SYSTEM SERVICED, THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONFUSED ABOUT HOW IT FUNCTIONED ON DIFFERENT MODELS - THE "BMW GENIUS" AT THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT IT SHOULD BRAKE FOR YOU, THE MECHANICS DID NOT. WHEN THE "BMW GENIUS" TESTED IT BY TRYING TO PARK 3 TIMES, HE THEN AGREED DRIVER SHOULD BRAKE - SOMETHING HE WAS PREVIOUSLY UNFAMILIAR WITH - BUT FOUND THAT THE SYSTEM WAS STEERING INTO OTHER CARS AS IT PARKED - ATTEMPTING TO SIDE SWIPE THE CARS IT WAS PARKING NEXT TO. HE SAID HE THOUGH THE SYSTEM WAS MISALIGNED, AND IN HIS WORDS "WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE USING IT." THIS SYSTEM IS GOING TO INJURE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE CONFUSING AND INCONSISTENT. CLEARLY THE SALESMAN, "GENIUSES," AND SERVICE PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MODELS. THE MANUAL OMITS ANY REFERENCE TO USING THE BRAKES DURING THE PROCESS WHICH IS COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT WITH OTHER MODELS AND THE BMW VIDEO ON HOW TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

11191064

Incident

Mar 9, 2019

Mileage

5,000 mi